Fluid clock mechanism

ABSTRACT

This fluid clock includes an oscillating pallet arm assembly rotatively mounted to a base and carrying buckets at each end. A reservoir is mounted to the base and fluid is supplied to the buckets alternately through a valve controlled conduit system. The valve is provided with an apertured sliding member of arcuate configuration, which oscillates with the pallet arm assembly and selectively opens and closes the conduit system. The buckets are charged in an ascended position and automatically discharged in a descended position. The pallet assembly is mounted to a ratchet controlled shaft, which forms part of a drive mechanism rotating a circular time indicator. A timing mechanism is provided by a shaft-mounted rotor adjustably immersed within a second reservoir.

United States Patent H 1 [451 Aug. 27, 1974 Vatterott FLUID CLOCK MECHANISM [75] Inventor: Oskar F. Vatterott, St. Louis, Mo.

[73] Assignee: Jackson J. Shinkle, St. Louis, Mo. [22] Filed: Aug. 21, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 390,313

[52] US. Cl 58/2, 58/42, l37/624.l4 [51] Int. Cl. G04b 45/00 [58] Field of Search 58/1, 2, 42; 137/5527, 137/624.l4

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l48,637 3/1874 Wenzel 58/42 3.540.208 1l/197O Kock 58/42 3,620,415 11/1971 Ruth 58/2 X Primary ExaminerLawrence R. Franklin [57] ABSTRACT This fluid clock includes an oscillating pallet arm assembly rotatively mounted to a base and carrying buckets at each end. A reservoir is mounted to the base and fluid is supplied to the buckets alternately through a valve controlled conduit system. The valve is provided with an apertured sliding member of arcuate configuration, which oscillates with the pallet arm assembly and selectively opens and closes the conduit system. The buckets are charged in an ascended position and automatically discharged in a descended position. The pallet assembly is mounted to a ratchet controlled shaft, which forms part of a drive mechanism rotating a circular time indicator. A timing mechanism is provided by a shaft-mounted rotor adjustably immersed within a second reservoir.

11 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEI] AUG 2 7 I974 smaar.

FIGURE 2.

, l FLUID CLOCK MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to hydraulic clock mechanisms and more particularly to an improved valve mechanism for a fluid clock.

Fluid operated clock mechanisms are not in themselves new and several are known which operate on various principles. For example, in their simplest form such mechanisms may consist of a drive wheel having a plurality of circumferentially arranged buckets, the wheel being rotated in one direction by metered amounts of water dripping into the buckets. More complex devices are also known which utilize pivoted balance arms having water receiving buckets at each end, and one such device is provided with two such arms which drive a pair of concentric discs, each having time indicia printed thereon.

None of the known mechanisms incorporates the use of a pivoted balance in combination with a slide valve mechanism.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This clock mechanism provides a pallet assembly in conjunction with a fluid valve, which is actuated by oscillations of the pallet assembly, and controls the operating fluid flow.

The pallet assembly includes an oscillating balance arm carrying buckets at each end and the buckets are alternately chargedwith fluid from a reservoir, said fluid flowing through conduits opened and closed by an arcuate sliding valve member carried by the oscillating balance arm.

The clock mechanism is relatively simple to manufacture and inexpensive to operate and maintain.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a base means carrying a reservoir having valvecontrolled conduit means alternately charginga pair of buckets mounted at opposite ends of an oscillating paltion by the pallet arm said shaft operatively driving a time indicator means.

An important object is to provide a valve means having a sliding valve member actuated by the oscillating arm and controlling flow through the conduit means to selectively charge the buckets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve block mountedto the base means and having an arcuate groove transversely disposed of the conduit flow and to provide an apertured arcuate valve member carried by the pallet arm and slidingly received in said groove said arcuate memberalternately cutting off and opening flow to each of the buckets as the pallet arm oscillates.

An important object is to provide a pallet arm mounted to the shaft and having a coincident axis of rotation with said shaft.

Yet another object is to provide the buckets with au-' tomatic discharge means including a movable valve member actuated by a pin extending from the base means. 7

Another important object is to provide a ratchet wheel attached to the shaft and controlled by a pawl attached to the pallet means so that the shaft and the indicator means are rotated in one direction only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

FIG. I is an elevational view of a fluid clock embodying the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view through the center line of the mechanism taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a partial end elevational view taken on line 66 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now by characters of reference to the drawings and first to FIGS. 1 and 2 it will be understood that the fluid clock mechanism is enclosed in 'a transparent globe l0 and that the mechanism includes a base assembly, generally indicated by numeral 11, which supports a reservoir, 12. The base assembly 11 includes a two-part pedestal portion 13 to which the globe 10 is attached as by fasteners 18. A valve block generally indicated by numeral 14 is disposed below, and attached to, the reservoir 12. A shaftlS is journal mounted to the base assembly 11 and a pallet assembly generally indicated by numeral 16 is rotatively mounted to the shaft 15. The pallet assembly 16 includes a pair of elongate arm members 17, having bucket members 20 and 21 pivotally mounted at each end, and a bifurcated transverse bracket member 22 carrying an arcuate valve member 23. The arcuate valve member 23 is slidingly received within an arcuate groove 24, which is provided in the valve block 14, as the bracket member 22 oscillates with the pallet assembly 16. The sliding valve member 23 controls flow from the reservoir 12 to bucket members 20 and 21 by alternately opening and cutting off flow through conduit members 25 and 26 respectively. When a bucket member, for example bucket 20, is charged, it descends to a point at which its contents are discharged. When the bucket member 20 is in the descended, discharge position the bucket member 21 is in an ascended position being charged. The resulting oscillating motion rotates the shaft 15 in one direction because of a ratchet wheel 50 and, through the medium of a transmission assembly 30, the rotation of said shaft 15 operatively drives an indicator 31 in circular motion relative to a fixed pointer 32. A fine adjustment timing device is provided as generally indicated by numeral 33.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the mechanism it will be understood that, as shown in FIG. 2, the base assembly 11 includes a generally hollow stem portion 34, a platform portion 35 and front and rear supports 36 and 37. The stem 34, platform 35 and front support 36 include passages 40, 41 and 42 respectively, communicating between a source of fluid supply indicated by S and the reservoir 12 through reservoir inlet aperture 43. The shaft 15 is journal mounted between the front and rear supports 36 and 37 respectively by means of bearings 45 and 46 and it will be un- .-derstood that the fluid supply passage 42 in the front support 36 divides into two streams in the vicinity of the mounting for the bearing 45. The reservoir 12 is attached to the front supports 36 by means of fasteners 47. In the preferred embodiment the valve block 14 is integrally formed with the rear support 37 and the reservoir 12 is attached to said valve block as by fasteners 48.

The shaft carries a ratchet wheel 50 fixedly attached thereto as by a set screw (not shown). The pallet assembly bracket member 22 is rotatively mounted to the shaft 15 by means of bearings 51 and 52 provided in each of the two bifurcated bracket portions 53 and 54, which are interconnected by bridge portion 59, and which are disposed in embracing relation about the ratchet wheel 50. A pawl 55, which is pivotally mounted between the bifurcated bracket portions 53 and 54 by means of a pivot pin 56, cooperates with the ratchet wheel 50 and, as best shown in FIG. 5, the pawl 55 includes a roller 57, which is engageable with said ratchet wheel 50. The ratchet assembly is completed by means of a bent spring 58 which is engageable with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 50 and is mounted to base assembly platform 35 as shown in FIG. 1. The arm members 17 are disposed in side-by-side relation and are fixedly attached to associated bifurcated bracket portions 53 and 54 as by fasteners 61. Because of the ratchet wheel 50 and pawl 55, the shaft 15 is rotatable in one direction only as the arm members 17 oscillate. As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 15 includes a threaded end 63 which is engageable with a worm element 64 provided at the end of a vertical shaft 65. Through the medium of gears 66, 67 and 68 the vertical shaft 65 rotates an indicator gear 70 about the upper portion of the stem 34. The indicator gear 70 is journal mounted to the stem 34 by means of bearing 71 and includes upper and lower annular seals 72 and 73 engageable with spaced faces 95 and 96 respectively provided by the base assembly 11. The indicator circle 31 is carried by opposed pairs of quadrant struts 74, which are attached to the indicator gear 70 and rotates with said indicator gear 70 relative to the fixed pointer 32 as shown in FIG. 6.

Turning now to the valve mechanism. which is best illustrated by FIGS. 2-5, it will be understood that the valve block 14 includes a vertical passage 75 communicating with the reservoir 12 by means of a reservoir outlet port indicated by numeral 76 said port having a similar configuration to said passage 75. As shown in FIG. 4 particularly, the arcuate groove 24 is defined by upper and lower walls 77 and 78 respectively. Passage 75 extends to the upper wall 77 and thereby communicates with arcuate groove 24. Apair of spaced passages 80 and 83 constituting first and second valve apertures extend downwardly from the lower wall 78 and thereby communicate with said arcuate groove 24. The passages 80 and 83 are disposed on opposite sides of the center of oscillation of the valve member 23. The radial passage 80 communicates with conduit 25 by means of a lateral passage 81 and an arcuate passage 82. The radial passage 83 communicates with conduit 26 by means of a lateral passage 84 and an arcuate passage 85. It will be observed that arcuate passages 82 and 85 cross over said center of oscillation to communicate with the conduit on the other end of said valve block. The sliding valve member 23, which is carried by the bracket member 22, oscillates in the arcuate groove 24 V and includes a central aperture 29 which moves from side to side about an oscillation center. In the preferred embodiment the oscillation center is defined by a vertical line passing through the journal axis of the shaft 15. The aperture 29 communicates with passage at all times and is alternately alignable with radial passages and 83 and thereby provides a means by which the valve member 23 controls flow from the reservoir 12 to the conduits 25 and 26. Conduits 25 and 26 are attached to the valve block 14 as by fasteners 86 and supply fluid to buckets 20 and 21 respectively through outlet ports 27 and 28 constituting first and second ports respectively. A cover plate 87 provides a closure for arcuate passages 82 and 85.

As shown in FIG. 1 bucket members 20 and 21 are pivotally attached to opposite ends of the arm members 17 as by pivot pins 60 attached to said bucket members. Each bucket member includes a discharge means at its lower end provided by a cylinder 90 having a slidable weighted piston element 91 disposed therein. When the bucket member descends to its lower level the piston element 91 is raised by a pin 92, which is fixedly attached to the base assembly platform portion 35 and includes a slotted seating rim 93. The cylinder 90 includes discharge apertures 94 and 95 which are closed by the piston element 91, when the bucket member is in raised position, by gravity action on said element. In the low position fluid is discharged through these apertures and, by 'way of the slotted seating rim, to the drain 130 at the bottom of the globe 10.

As shown in FIG. 5 the pallet assembly 16 includes a pendulum counterbalance provided by a depending member integrally formed with the bracket member 22 and having a weight 101, lengthwise adjustably attached thereto. Further, in its preferred embodiment the mechanism includes a timing device which is provided by a rotor attached to the end of the shaft 15 and having a plurality of vanes 111 extending therefrom. The vanes 111 are immersible below the level of a bath 112 which is provided by a secondary reservoir 113. The reservoir level is adjustable by means of a valve such as a needle valve (not shown) and it will be understood that the bath 112 provides an inertia force which tends to resist rotational movement of the vanes 111 and shaft 15 and that this force depends on the depth to which said vanes are immersed. This adjustable level of the bath 112 provides in effect a fine ad- ,justment timing means.

It is thought that the structural features and functional advantages of this fluid mechanism have become fully apparent from theforegoing'description of parts but for completeness of disclosure the operation of the device will be briefly described.

Fluid from the supply S is delivered to the reservoir 12 by means of passages 40, 41 and 42 in the stem 34, base assembly platform 35 and front support 36 respectively, said passages collectivelyconstituting a supply passage through the base means. The supply is preferably such that the fluid overflows the reservoir to cascade down flurne members and the interior of the transparent globe 10 to create a waterfall effect.

Fluid is delivered to the valve block arcuate groove 24 from the reservoir outlet port 76 and is supplied to either conduit 25 or conduit 26 depending on the disposition of the arcuate valve member 23. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, when the valve member aperture 29 is aligned with the valve block radial passage 83 fluid is supplied to conduit 26 and thence to bucket member 21 by connecting passages 84 and 85. When the aperture 29 is aligned with the radial aperture 83 the valve member 23 covers the radial passage 80 and thereby cuts off flow through connecting passages 81 and 82 to the conduit 25. When the bucket member 21 is sufficiently charged with fluid from conduit 25 it descends, causing the arcuate valve member 23 to move in a clockwise direction which cuts off flow through radial passage 83, and therefore conduit 26. When the arcuate member aperture 29 is aligned with radial passage 80 fluid flows through said passage 80 to the conduit 25. In effect, the sliding valve determines the path of fluid flowing through passages leading from the reservoir 12 and discharging into the bucket members, said passages constituting conduit means. During this clockwise motion the pawl 55 simply rides up the tooth 62 without rotating the ratchet wheel 50, and the shaft 15 to which said ratchet wheel is attached. Because the shaft 15 does not rotate during this half cycle the indicator 31 does not move. When the bucket member 21 has descended to its lower limit fluid is automatically discharged as the pin 92 raises piston element 91..The discharged fluid escapes from the bottom of the globe by means of a drain 130; see FIG. 2.

As bucket member 21 descends, bucket member ascends to a charge position immediately below conduit 25. When sufficiently charged bucket member 20 commences to descend causingthe arcuate valve' member to move in a counterclockwise direction. Because of the offset engagement of the pawl roller 57 with the associated tooth 62, the. ratchet wheel 50 and the shaft 15 rotate and operatively turn the indicator gear 70 a predetermined amount by virtue of the transmission assembly 30. Movement of the gear 70 turns the indicator circle 31 through the same angle of rotation as said gear 70.

The location of the pendulum weight 101 provides an adjustment feature regulating the time of oscillation of the arcuate valve member 23. A fine timing device is provided by the vaned rotor 110, and adjustment of the fluid level in the secondary reservoir 113 ensures accuracy of the mechanism.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a fluid clock mechanism:

a. base means,

b. reservoirmeans carried by the base means,

c. conduit means communicating with the reservoir means and including first and second outlet ports selectively discharging fluid from said reservoir means,

d. pallet means including an arm member having opposed ends said arm member being oscillatively mounted to said base means intermediate said ends,

e. first and second bucket members attached to said arm member on opposite sides of said oscillative mounting to receive fluid from said first and second outlet ports respectively, each bucket means including discharge means,

f. valve means disposed between the first and second outlet ports and the reservoir means controlling flow through the conduit means and including an arcuate movable valve member attached to said pallet means and oscillating with said arm member alternately closing and opening flow through said first and second ports, I

g. movable indicator means, and

h. drive means operatively connected between said arm member and said indicator means for selectively moving said indicator means as said arm member oscillates.

2. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 1, in

which:

i. the valve means includes spaced upper and lower walls defining an arcuate groove receiving said movable valve member, and said lower wall includes first and second valve apertures spaced from each other and communicating with said first and second outlet ports respectively, and

j. said movable valve member includes an oscillating aperture alternately communicating with said first and second valve apertures.

' 3. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 2, in which:

k. the movable valve member aperture oscillates about an oscillation center,

I. the outlet ports and the valve apertures communicating therewith are disposed on opposite sides of said oscillation center, and

m. the conduit means includes a first passage extending across said oscillation center to connect said first outlet port and said first valve aperture and a second passage extending across said oscillation center to connect said second outlet port and said second valve aperture.

4. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 3, in

which: 7

n. shaft means is rotatively mounted to the base means said shaft means including a fixed ratchet wheel,

0. the pallet means is journal mounted to said shaft means, and

p. the drive means includes a pawl means carried by the pallet means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to permit movement of said shaft means in one direction only.

5. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 4, in

which:

q. the pallet means includes a transverse bracket member attached to said arm member and carrying said movable valve member, and

r. the pawl is carried by said transverse bracket member.

6. In a fluid clock mechanism:

a. base means,

b. reservoir means carried by the base means,

c. conduit means communicating with the reservoir means and including first and second outlet ports,

d. shaft means journal mounted to the base means,

e. pallet means mounted to the shaft means for oscillation about said journal axis said pallet means including an elongate arm member having opposed ends, an upwardly projecting transverse bracket member attached to said arm member and a depending balance member,

f. first and second bucket members attached to opposite ends of said arm member below said first and second outlet ports to receive fluid from said ports, each bucket member including discharge means,

g. valve means including:

1. a valve block mounted below said reservoir means and having an arcuate groove, said block including first and second apertures communieating with said first and second outlet ports respectively, and

2. an arcuate sliding member carried by said transverse bracket member for oscillative movement within said groove and including an aperture alternatingly communicating with said first and second apertures,

h. movable indicator means,

i. drive means between said indicator means and said pallet means, including ratchet means carried by said pallet means to permit rotation of said shaft means in one direction only.

7. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in

which:

j: timing means controls the rate of oscillation said timing means including:

1. a bath disposed below said shaft means,

2. blade means at one end of said shaft immersible in said bath, and

3. adjustment means controlling the level of the bath.

8. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in

which:

j. each bucket member discharge means includes a discharge aperture having a closure element movably mounted to the bucket member and a triggering pin mounted to the base means and engageable with said closure element to move said element.

9. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in

which:

j. the indicator means includes a ring member embracingly disposed about the base means, k. the drive means includes a worm gear assembly operatively connected between said shaft means and said ring member to rotate said ring member.

10. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in

which:

j. fluid supply means is connected to the base means,

k. the base means includes a supply passage communicating between said fluid supply means and said reservoir means.

11. In a fluid clock mechanism:

a. base means,

b. reservoir means carried by the base means,

c. conduit means communicating with the reservoir means and including first and second outlet ports selectively discharging fluid from said reservoir means,

(1. pallet means including an arm member having opposed ends said arm member being oscillatively mounted to said base means intermediate said ends,

e. first and second bucket members attached to said arm member on opposite sides of said oscillative mounting to receive fluid from said first and second outlet ports respectively, each bucket member including discharge means,

f. valve means disposed between the first and second outlet ports and the reservoir means controlling flow through the conduit means and including a sliding valve member attached to and movable with I said pallet means and alternately closing and opening flow through said first and second ports,

g. movable indicator means, and

h. drive means operatively connected between said pallet means and said indicator means for selectively moving said indicator means. 

1. In a fluid clock mechanism: a. base means, b. reservoir means carried by the base means, c. conduit means communicating with the reservoir means and including first and second outlet ports selectively discharging fluid from said reservoir means, d. pallet means including an arm member having opposed ends said arm member being oscillatively mounted to said base means intermediate said ends, e. first and second bucket members attached to said arm member on opposite sides of said oscillative mounting to receive fluid from said first and second outlet ports respectively, each bucket means including discharge means, f. valve means disposed between the first and second outlet ports and the reservoir means controlling flow through the conduit means and including an arcuate movable valve member attached to said pallet means and oscillating with said arm member alternately closing and opening flow through said first and second ports, g. movable indicator means, and h. drive means operatively connected between said arm member and said indicator means for selectively moving said indicator means as said arm member oscillates.
 2. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 1, in which: i. the valve means includes spaced upper and lower walls defining an arcuate groove receiving said movable valve member, and said lower wall includes first and second valve apertures spaced from each other and communicating with said first and second outlet ports respectively, and j. said movable valve member includes an oscillating aperture alternately communicating with said first and second valve apertures.
 2. blade means at one end of said shaft immersible in said bath, and
 2. an arcuate sliding member carried by said transverse bracket member for oscillative movement within said groove and including an aperture alternatingly communicating with said first and second apertures, h. movable indicator means, i. drive means between said indicator means and said pallet means, including ratchet means carried by said pallet means to permit rotation of said shaft means in one direction only.
 3. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 2, in which: k. the movable valve member aperture oscillates about an oscillation center, l. the outlet ports and the valve apertures communicating therewith are disposed on opposite sides of said oscillation center, and m. the conduit means includes a first passage extending across said oscillation center to connect said first outlet port and said first valve aperture and a second passage extending across said oscillation center to connect said second outlet port and said second valve aperture.
 3. adjustment means controlling the level of the bath.
 4. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 3, in which: n. shaft means is rotatively mounted to the base means said shaft means including a fixed ratchet wheel, o. the pallet means is journal mounted to said shaft means, and p. the drive means includes a pawl means carried by the pallet means and engageable with said ratchet wheel to permit movement of said shaft means in one direction only.
 5. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 4, in which: q. the pallet means includes a transverse bracket member attached to said arm member and carrying said movable valve member, and r. the pawl is carried by said transverse bracket member.
 6. In a fluid clock mechanism: a. base means, b. reservoir means carried by the base means, c. conduit means communicating with the reservoir means and including first and second outlet ports, d. shaft means journal mounted to the base means, e. pallet means mounted to the shaft means for oscillation about said journal axis said pallet means including an elongate arm member having opposed ends, an upwardly projecting transverse bracket member attached to said arm member and a depending balance member, f. first and second bucket members attached to opposite ends of said arm member below said first anD second outlet ports to receive fluid from said ports, each bucket member including discharge means, g. valve means including:
 7. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in which: j. timing means controls the rate of oscillation said timing means including:
 8. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in which: j. each bucket member discharge means includes a discharge aperture having a closure element movably mounted to the bucket member and a triggering pin mounted to the base means and engageable with said closure element to move said element.
 9. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in which: j. the indicator means includes a ring member embracingly disposed about the base means, k. the drive means includes a worm gear assembly operatively connected between said shaft means and said ring member to rotate said ring member.
 10. A fluid clock mechanism as defined in claim 6, in which: j. fluid supply means is connected to the base means, k. the base means includes a supply passage communicating between said fluid supply means and said reservoir means.
 11. In a fluid clock mechanism: a. base means, b. reservoir means carried by the base means, c. conduit means communicating with the reservoir means and including first and second outlet ports selectively discharging fluid from said reservoir means, d. pallet means including an arm member having opposed ends said arm member being oscillatively mounted to said base means intermediate said ends, e. first and second bucket members attached to said arm member on opposite sides of said oscillative mounting to receive fluid from said first and second outlet ports respectively, each bucket member including discharge means, f. valve means disposed between the first and second outlet ports and the reservoir means controlling flow through the conduit means and including a sliding valve member attached to and movable with said pallet means and alternately closing and opening flow through said first and second ports, g. movable indicator means, and h. drive means operatively connected between said pallet means and said indicator means for selectively moving said indicator means. 